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While astronomers calculated the approximately 23.5° tilt of the Earth that means the summer solstice, ancient Europeans marked the day for religious celebration.

Ancient Gaul celebrated the Feast of Epona, named after a goddess who represented fertility and agriculture.

Stonehenge, built between 3000 B.C. and 1600 B.C., aligns directly with the rising of the sun on the longest day of the year. Ancient Druids (and thousands of current ones) gathered there around the summer solstice. Scholars even tie the Christian feast day for John the Baptist (June 24) to pagan solstice celebrations, because the solstice also represents light's triumph over the dark.

The solstice, which falls on June 21 this year, has been a time to ask the gods for a bountiful harvest.

The Sonoran Sunrise Grove will carry on the tradition Saturday with an open service on the East Side of town. Anyone, no matter their religious affiliation or lack thereof, is welcome.

The pan-Celtic group will call on the Gaulish god of storms and the Gaulish bear goddess to bring a peaceful but productive monsoon.

The grove's rituals, says Julian Greene, who organized the event, start with the concept of Celtic hospitality.

During the Waters of Life, the grove members share a meal among themselves and with the kindreds (god, goddess, ancestors and nature spirits), who have been invited to join in. Greene describes it as a "type of communion service."

"It's a gift for a gift," she says. "We give a gift to the gods, they return blessings. The gift could be a poem, a dance, a song, silver to the well. That's a thing that's pretty central to most religions."

The Sonoran Sunrise Grove meets Saturday mornings at a Druid chapel — large stones, an altar, an oak tree and a well and fire pit. Since 2004, the grove membership has almost doubled, to more than 50. At public events like Saturday's, about half of the attendees are newcomers trying to learn about Druidism, Greene says.

The neo-pagan tradition doesn't require members to connect with a specific deity; instead it incorporates many different gods and goddesses, depending upon the reason for the ceremony. The focus of worship varies among individuals and groves.

Some Druids choose deities based on ethnicities, others based on personal preference, Greene says.

The Sunrise Grove chooses among Irish, Scottish, Welsh and Gaulish gods and goddesses, depending upon the time of year.

In the Druid tradition, "like produces like," Greene says, so the plays often incorporated into Druid worship represent a goal of the grove or an individual, like Saturday's acting out of lightning bolts.

The summer solstice is one of eight major High Days for many Druids. It's what's known as a liminal time — a crossroads.

"It's neither one nor the other, like dawn, which is neither day nor night but both," says Mark Cantwell, another grove member. The ambiguity and overlap add power to the "magick," or working with nature to bring change, of the rituals, Greene says.

Magick working, she says, isn't that different from the Christian concept of miracles, which she describes as circumstances coming together for a favorable outcome.

"Except we are willing that to happen. We are bringing about those circumstances," she says.

Greene says magick is fundamental to neo-pagan religion.

Greene declines to describe in detail the magick rituals because she says talking about them before weakens them.

"Some people really resist the concept of magick, but it really corresponds this day and age to quantum energies," Greene says.

The grove chose to celebrate on Saturday instead of the technical solstice because of its unusual astronomical configurations, Greene says. The summer triangle, always bright around the summer solstice, includes the star Altair, which connects to the stormbringer. This year, the Jupiter triangle is also visible. Jupiter was the Roman equivalent to the Gaulish god of storms, Greene says.

"The ancients look for what they called good auspices or favorable conditions," Greene says.

Having the ceremony on Saturday in view of the Jupiter triangle reinforces the rituals and magical energies, Greene says.

What: Solstice celebration

When: Gates open at 5 p.m. Saturday. Pre-ritual explanations start at 6:45 p.m. Ceremony procession starts at 7:15 p.m.

Where: 11750 E. Broadway, east of Houghton Road

Et cetera: The free service is family friendly. Children are welcome, as long as they're old enough not to disrupt. Bring something to sit on.

Didgeridoo players join for healing of humanity

Tucson's didgeridoo players are joining with others across the world Wednesday for an evening of sound healing meditation.

The meditation starts in New Zealand at sunset. And as the sun goes down across the globe, groups of musicians will get together for an hour to play and then meditate for the healing of the planet.

Allen Smith expects about 30 didgeridoo players to gather Wednesday.

"I've heard it said that Tucson could be the didgeridoo capital of the world, having about 300 players."

Smith requests that musicians bring their instruments tuned to the note "D." Non-musicians are welcome, but Smith says the event "is not a party but a sincere gathering of people. Prayers and good vibrations are used for the erasing of humanity and the Earth."

Music starts at 7 p.m., followed by 15 minutes of silent mediation. Bring a folding chair or mat.

For more information call 743-7339 or go to www.didjshop.com/shop1/ didgeridoo_meditation. html online.

To get to the event at 3275C N. Grannen Road, head west on Grant Road past I-10 and turn right on North Silverbell Road. Drive about one mile and turn left on to Goret Road. Go 1.3 miles and turn right into the drive next to the happy face sign. Continue down the drive to the second happy face sign with an arrow pointing to the right.